Ophélie Artaud / Photo credit: MAJDI FATHI / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP 17:21 p.m., October 12, 2023

Since Saturday's Hamas attack on Israel, thousands of rockets have been fired at Israel. Some of them were intercepted by the Iron Dome, an air defense system that is supposed to protect almost all of Israeli territory. But how does it work, and why is Israel seeking to improve it?

Thousands of rockets have been fired at Israel since the beginning of the Hamas attack. On Saturday morning alone, 5,000 projectiles were reportedly fired in the direction of Israel from Gaza, a figure reduced to 2,500 according to Israel. While some did hit their target, some were stopped by the Iron Dome, the famous mobile air defense system designed to intercept short-range projectiles, such as rockets and mortar shells.

What is it?

Developed with the help of the United States and deployed on Israeli territory from 2011, the Iron Dome is composed of a radar system that can locate and shoot down explosive devices in mid-air within a radius of up to 70 kilometers. However, it is ineffective for projectiles launched at very low altitudes.

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The very first battery was installed near the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, about 50 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. Others were later positioned on the borders of the Palestinian territory, Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, and around Tel Aviv. Much of Israel's territory is now protected by this defense system.

How does it work?

A battery consists of several distinct parts: a mobile control unit, a radar and three launchers, each equipped with 20 interceptor missiles. In concrete terms, when a shot is spotted by mobile radars in Israeli airspace, its trajectory is analyzed by software to determine the point of impact. One or more interceptor missiles are then launched to shoot down the target in mid-air. A system that comes at a very high price: each missile launched costs about $50,000.

© JACK GUEZ / AFP

Iron Dome Launchers.

A system that has its limits

The Hamas attack on October 7 also showed that the Iron Dome is not infallible: the Israeli army estimates its effectiveness rate at around 90%. The very high number of missiles launched simultaneously by Hamas also explains why so many rockets could not be intercepted by the defense system.

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The Iron Beam, the future of the Iron Dome?

But to reduce the failure rate of Iron Dome, the IDF is currently developing a laser missile defense system. Dubbed "Iron Beam" and manufactured by Rafael, Israel's Weapons Development Authority, this "iron beam" could be capable of intercepting all types of projectiles, even if they are launched in large numbers. All at a lower cost. A way to fill the cracks in the Iron Dome.